One day in late 2024, while scrolling through LinkedIn, I came across a post by filmmaker Mark Forbes that instantly caught my attention. It was about a documentary he’s been making called Quiet on Set: The Class Division in the Film Industry? — and as a filmmaker from a working-class background myself, the title alone struck a chord. The UK film industry has often felt like a closed shop unless you come from the “right” background or already have the connections to open those doors. So naturally, I was curious. I reached out to Mark with the idea of having a proper conversation about the making of the film — and, generously, he agreed. It was an insightful and inspiring conversation — one that I’m excited to share with you below.
Filmmaking / Directing : The Class Division in the UK Film Industry by Steve Conway
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Steve Conway. Thanks for sharing, I’m interested in this topic, having started screenwriting in the last couple of years with no previous industry experience.
Fantastic interview, Steve Conway! The film industry (worldwide) does feel like a closed shop unless you come from the “right” background or already have the connections to open those doors. It sucks, but there are ways around those things.
Networking/building relationships
Writing/directing/producing/etc. incredible work that can't be ignored
Winning contests/festivals that move careers forward
Marketing (creatives marketing themselves and their work) and finding ways to stand out
Using social media platforms and indie streaming services to get work out there